30 January 2006

Nominations Open For Ashburton Community Awards

The biggest celebration of volunteers is about to hit town, with nominations opening for the TrustPower Ashburton Community Awards.

The Awards, jointly run by TrustPower and the Ashburton District Council, aim to give recognition and reward to those voluntary groups and organisations that make an outstanding contribution to the Ashburton community.

Since the TrustPower Ashburton Community Awards began in 2001, almost 60 voluntary groups and organisations have received recognition as well as their share of more than $25,000 that TrustPower has injected into the district, through its Community Awards programme. This year, TrustPower has more than $5,000 to give away as a reward to outstanding voluntary groups in the district.

TrustPower Community Relations Coordinator Rebecca James says last year a record breaking 58 nominations were received for the TrustPower Ashburton Community Awards.

Rebecca James says she is hoping for that success to be repeated this year.

"There are hundreds of voluntary groups and organisations working to make the Ashburton district a better place to live and we want to see them celebrated at this year's Awards" says Rebecca James

The Awards cover five categories; Heritage and Environment, Health and Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Sport and Leisure, and Educational and Child/Youth Development. The category winners receive $500 and runners-up receive $250, with the supreme winner taking home $1,500, a trophy and an all expenses paid trip to the 2006 TrustPower National Community Awards.

Last year, the Rakaia Medical Trust took out the Supreme Award at the TrustPower Ashburton Community Awards. As a result, two representatives from the Medical Trust along with Ashburton District Mayor Bede O'Malley and his wife Julie, will be representing the district at the 2005 TrustPower National Community Awards, being held in Greymouth from 17 to 19 March 2006. The National Awards are being held during Volunteering New Zealand's Volunteer Awareness Week.

Rebecca James says she is sure the Rakaia Medical Trust will be great ambassadors for the Ashburton District at the TrustPower National Community Awards.

Anyone can nominate a group or not-for-profit organisation for the TrustPower Ashburton Community Awards - groups and organisations can even nominate themselves. Nominations forms are available from any Council office or service centre, from www.trustpower.co.nz/communityawards or by calling Rebecca James on 0800 87 11 11.

ENDS

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